Shoghi Effendi

Shoghi Effendi Rabbani (1 March 1897-4 November 1957) was the Guardian of the Baha'i faith from 1921 until his death in 1957, succeeding Abdu'l-Baha.

Biography
Shoghi Effendi Rabbani was born in Acre in 1897, the grandson of Abdu'l-Baha and the great-grandson of Baha'u'llah. His grandfather influenced him from his early years, and his grandfather insisted that he be addressed with the honorary title "Effendi". He became fluent in English, Persian, Turkish, Arabic, and French, and, in 1921, he was appointed his faith's only "Guardian" following his grandfather's death. Between 1921 and his death in 1957, his faith grew from 100,000 to 400,000 followers, and the faith spread from 35 to 250 countries. He built the Baha'i administration mandated by his grandfather's last will, and, after Shoghi Effendi's death in 1957, the administration said that it could not legislate to appoint a successor to him.